Happy Easter!

Hope everyone had a good Easter!  Always love this day-- the jubilant singing at church (made even better by being back at our church here in Austin), the triumphant marking of a new, joyful season in the church calendar, the reminder of God's real grace.   He is risen indeed!

Had a rather camera-happy day, and some downtime during everyone's nap...

So we weren't the most color-coordinated of families this morning.  But the moving truck has yet to arrive, so we each just wore our most appropriate outfit. 

Which for Clement meant an outfit of his daddy's, circa 1981.

-- drum roll please --

Oh YES.  You have never seen a sailor suit so superbly displayed.

He totally knew he was rocking the fashion world.

(I think he would report its finest quality as the built in red chew toy.)

Seriously.  I LOVE this outfit.

...note the older sibling hand of oppression...

But today, Clement didn't mind.  

He was a good sport.  Maybe it was Easter spirit, maybe it was the sailor suit.

Our plan had been to leave from church and head straight to San Antonio to spend Easter with Granny, the way Josephine and I did last year.  But Josephine came down with a sore throat last night.  We can't tell if it's just bad allergies, or some kind of bug, but it didn't seem very loving to expose Sean's grandma to any germs, just in case.  So our visit has been postponed until later in the week.

Instead, we came home, Josephine hunted 29 eggs while Clement napped, and then they both tackled their Easter basket gifts.

doing one of the activities found in the eggs: 

bracelets where you spell out words by sliding letters on them

fully adorned with name bracelets and glittery hair clips, hijacking my phone call to my mom

ah ha.  what have we here?  I shall contemplate.  

It is white and crumply and because I have a dirty diaper is going to get on my nerves VERY QUICKLY.

It was a good Easter, even with plans thwarted and family sick and CONFUSING white tissue paper. 

It is good because it's Easter.  

(And this year, with a sailor suit resurrected as well-- very, very good!)

hunting practice

(Seems unholy to do taxes on Easter.  Separation of church and state and all.  :-)  ...or something like that.  So I'll blast photos of my kids doing eastery things through all of cyberspace in the name of connecting with family instead.)

On the Saturday before Easter we went to the church where Josephine's old day school is located (First Pres) to hunt eggs with Zanna, her family, and lots of other kiddos.  It was a lovely afternoon, with time for picnicking afterwards.

Zanna's little brother, Wyatt (he's a couple months older than Clement)

Wyatt's a man on the move-- quick as can be!  And he's totally sweet with Clement-- pets him, hugs him, coos, and smiles-- very social!  (Clement turns on his own charm by sitting there like a bump on a log and staring.)  I need to get photos of them together next time we see them.  They currently embody these polar traits... dynamic liveliness and ... ummm... let's call it a contemplative demeanor.   

Mom.  Leaf.  I've been contemplating it.  And now I want to show you.

eight months!

Clement is 8 months old today!   I didn't actually remember until I was pushing him in the playground swing for the first time this evening.  He loved it as much as he's loved the baby swing here at the house, his jolly jumper, bouncing, loud noises, punching, and other physically "intense" (it's all relative) things.  I got some great squeals out of him!  It was adorable.  

So that marked a first, as did his grocery cart ride at Sprouts the other day.  I'm sure I'd have sat him in the cart seat earlier; this was just the first time he was at a grocery store where we didn't walk there with him in the Ergo.  It was also adorable to watch... loved his little white-knuckle grip on the bar in front of him.

I think most of his behavior is adorable to watch, actually, so I recognize my bias.  Even the way he thinks his clip-on high chair is a something in which to bounce and swing is hilarious to me.  It makes feeding him a total mess at times, but I can't figure out how to teach him to hold still!  Josephine's always worried everything's going to fall off the table because he shakes it so much!  

In terms of self-propelled movement, just in the last few days I've seen him make progress towards crawling.  He's currently pushing himself backwards (much to his frustration), but I see his little legs going every which way as he tries to figure it out:  up under him, back out, side to side, frog-kicking, pedaling, etc.  Eventually he'll get it all coordinated!  But there's something newly determined on his face regarding the whole thing.  He seems to understand there is actually a POINT to being on his tummy, now... to reach further and get into things!!  The incentive is definitely there.  

:-)

March 16 - the exersaucer at my parents' house

When we first got home, I started Clement and Josephine sleeping in the same room, and they both went through an adjustment time where they woke up constantly-- but not really at the same time.  So it seemed less contagious, and more like it was just the stress of being in a new place, new arrangement.  Sleep has gotten a little more normal since then, and some nights have actually gone extremely well.  There's something about closing the door on them in there sleeping together for their nap or nighttime that just really warms my heart.

March 9 - still in Astoria

Clement's eczema is still unresolved.  I decided earlier this week to try cutting out all nuts at the same time.  (I have tried peanuts before, or peanuts and walnuts, but still had almond milk or something in a granola... it doesn't seem like I've ever managed to cut out ALL nuts).   I also decided to start eating gluten again (just because the restrictions are getting insane), and I cheated ONCE on dairy during a day when I felt discouraged because his rash just seemed so bad still, and I didn't think it'd make much of a difference.  Huge mistake.  Not when it came to his rash-- but because I got knocked on my rear by seasonal allergies.  Sean and Josephine had been reacting strongly to everything in the air since we got back, but even with all my cleaning and dusting and work out side, I hadn't really been bothered at all (which is highly unusual for me).  I don't know if it was reinstating gluten or the one small dairy cheat, but I seriously suffered for it!!  I immediately cut gluten back out and have decided cheating on dairy isn't worth it!  I still have some residual achiness and sore throat/sniffles, but am recovering quickly.  (Interestingly, I mentioned to Josephine that cutting out dairy might help her allergies.  She said she would talk to her body about it.  Today she said her body wanted to not have dairy.  So she didn't have any dairy today, in any form, and this was the first day we've been here where she hasn't had a runny nose.  She still sounds a little congested, but she seemed dramatically improved, even with an hour out at the windy playground.  I really hope it helps relieve some of her suffering-- this is SUCH a pretty time of year to be outside!)

Anyway, his cheeks have seemed to recover noticeably after I cut out all forms of nuts, which is where he's had most of his residual suffering.  I thought that was quite encouraging, but then this evening, some kind of rash was back on his tummy.  Could be the lotion, or the shirt I changed midday, or I also ate a lot of salami today.  Nitrates maybe?  Obviously there is still some sort of outstanding variable.  All that to say, I'm still trying my darnedest to make progress on this front!

I'm taking both Clement and Josephine in to the pediatrician for well-checks and vaccinations on April 5, so hopefully we'll have some stats and data then.  (And perhaps some new insights into the skin issues).

He seems to be growing well, though.  He nurses when he wakes up, then eats breakfast.  He nurses before eating lunch.  He nurses before eating dinner.  He nurses before bed.  Since there are only those 4 nursing sessions during the day, I guess that's why he's still waking up around 4 for a feeding... and it's probably important that I feed him then in terms of keeping up my supply.  Maybe I'll try finding another time to nurse him during the day to see if that makes a difference...

The only other thing I can think of right now to mention is how much I love it when he gets all sing-song-y.  Sometimes he just coos and talks sweetly.  But he also starts "singing" sometimes when he hears other people singing or music.  Just sort of soft, smooth, sustained vowel tones.  I love his vocal interactions.  And just yesterday he seemed to start lifting his hand to say "Hi" to us at dinner.  Josephine and I have spent a good amount of time waving at him, and he did seem to use the hand lift in addition to lots of eye contact and talking, so I think it's a bonafide wave-- a new level of him connecting with us.  Regardless, it's just cute to have him sitting there with his hand up in the air talking to you so sweetly.  

This boy.

I am so smitten.

Happy 8 months, buckaroo!

an update from HOME.

Topo Chico, you tried.
And ever since, you've been put to really great use!

protecting Josephine's tomato plants from the random March freeze

But let's be honest.  The entirety of Mexico simply cannot meet the carbonated demands of this household.  Which is why our moving truck really needs to GET HERE with our carbonator in tow.  Should be coming around Friday.

the planting of said tomato plants.

Meanwhile, things are chugging along.  Clement can't figure out why his mom is busy doing anything other than cuddling him or why we are somewhere that we haven't been the last 7 months (almost all of) his life.  Josephine can't adjust (I think she'll never be able to) to Sean being in Atlanta for a few days, but that aside, she is delighting in forgotten toys and her new freedom of running up and down the stairs.  She's also noticeably improved at her bikes, Memory, and tee-ball.  Honestly, I'm enjoying rediscovering her toys with her!  It's amazing what half a year does for her coordination and mental understanding.

This one totally pegged my water glass.  

She actually hit the majority right to me (and my camera lens).

After endless cleaning and washing, dust is nearly eradicated.  Her birthday big-girl swing has been made, a rain barrel leveled, dryer vent repaired, lots of renters' items collected, other random bits done... just in times for tax forms to arrive and my real work to begin.

And that's the state of things.

On a practical level.

On metaphysical level (whoa!) there's a lot of comfort and joy that I feel by being back.  It's unspeakably wonderful to see the faces I love and to appreciate my home for everything it offers (other than outstanding work).  On that note, though, I even love having tasks to throw myself into.  I have always enjoyed problem solving and working with my hands… the challenge lies in achieving balance, knowing when to stop, making sure I portion my time according to my real priorities, etc.
Anyway, there is so much to love about being here.  I have at times already missed things about Astoria, though I know that won't really hit until after the "newness" of being back wears off.  But mostly I think the time up there added some excellent perspective and reorganizing of my daily habits … which with a bit of mindfulness, could translate into making here that much more wonderful.

Which is something, considering it's already pretty darn wonderful.

He looks annoyed here, but I think he kind of loved it.

4th Birthday Party

Josephine's still a couple weeks away from turning four, but since we were passing through Bedford on our way back to Austin, my parents were awesome enough to host her birthday party at their place today.  I'm glad it saved everyone the trip down to Austin, but mostly (selfishly) I'm glad that it spared me having to get our place presentable and party ready so shortly after getting home! 

Sean's parents and Gam made the drive up to help celebrate, and my brothers and sisters came out from Dallas, so it was truly a full house and wonderfully special.  Josephine was on cloud nine all day.  (Poor Darla, who actually did just have her birthday on Thursday, was totally kicked out of the spotlight.  She got her name on a balloon.  That was it.  So sad.  Darla's a supremely good aunt.  And not just for letting Josephine steal her birthday-- you should see how much Josephine admires her.  I have a strong suspicion that in about 10 years Darla's going to be a very necessary influence in the life of her niece-who-aims-all-angst-at-her-mother.  I'm already thanking God for Aunt Darla!)

Clement thinks little blowout party favors are hilarious.

They really kind of ARE when you think about it.

Presents!!! 

Treacherous presents!!!  Even better!

caaaalm presents... the BEST.  (says Mom)

What was that I was saying about Aunt Darla?  Yes.  Love.

Clement getting one of the 539,028 kisses he received that day.  

He's such a snuggle monster.

My mom asked me a week ago what kind of cake Josephine would like.  I had no idea, so I went and found her and asked.  Josephine knew immediately: chocolate cake, chocolate icing, pink writing.

She had spoken.

She also knew which dress she wanted to wear for her party months in advance, informed me and my mom that she wanted us to dress up for her party, and was trying to request the color of her candles until I told her that maybe we could just be happy with whatever candles we got.  (!!!)

You'll notice, though, that in the last half of this post, her outfit has changed.  She is wearing items gifted to her since they were more frilly and girly than the party dress she'd chosen (which had been the pinkest thing she had in her closet in NY).   The entire time I was helping her change she was just gushing about the beauty of the clothes she was donning.  

Someone PLEASE tell me she will have a tomboy phase so I can relate to her?!?!

(Though I have to admit, she is kind of softening me up, winning me over.  The whole girly thing can be pretty cute at times.)

She sang along with her own birthday song.  Such a precious age.

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather!

Crazy to think it was SNOWING in Astoria today!!

three Sims sons

water fountains are fascinating when you're never-seven months

new bike, roller skates, ukelele, tutu, an endlessly patient Mama Jo...  heaven! 

Happy 4th Birthday Party, Josephine!  And thank you to everyone who put in all the effort to make this day so special for her!